The purpose of this website is to provide free sermon manuscripts and sermon videos to pastors and
missionaries throughout the world, especially the Third World, where there are few if any
theological
seminaries or Bible schools.

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The purpose of this website is to provide free sermon manuscripts and sermon videos to pastors and missionaries throughout the world, especially the Third World, where there are few if any theological seminaries or Bible schools.

Whenever you write to Dr. Hymers always tell him what country you live in, or he cannot answer you. Dr. Hymers’ e-mail is rlhymersjr@sbcglobal.net.

CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY

by Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.

A sermon preached at the Baptist Tabernacle of Los Angeles
Thursday Evening, June 26, 2014

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

I have been preaching to you about the sin and apostasy in the days before the Flood in Noah’s time. And when we look around us we see that our country, and our world, is very sinful. Men today are angry with God or, at least, not interested in Him. They reject God. The Apostle Paul said that mankind “is enmity against God” – is hostile to God (Romans 8:7). On the other hand, the Bible says that “God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11). How can God’s anger toward man for sin, and man’s hostility toward God, be overcome? The answer is given in our opening text,

“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Of course the Apostle is speaking of real Christians here. Only of those who are converted is it said, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The death of Jesus Christ on the Cross makes the convert at peace with God, and God at peace with the convert. “Hail, Thou Once-Despised Jesus” is a great hymn. The second stanza says,

All Thy people are forgiven, Through the virtue of Thy Blood;
Opened is the gate of heaven, Peace is made ‘twixt man and God.
(“Hail, Thou Once-Despised Jesus” by John Bakewell, 1721-1819).

“Your iniquities have separated between you and your God” (Isaiah 59:2a).

Have you ever wondered why those who are saved can pray to God so easily, but you can’t? The rest of that verse says,

“Your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2b).

Do you ever wonder why you pray for God to draw you to Jesus, but He doesn’t do it? There is the answer, again,

“Your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2b).

You can pray until your face is red, and God will not answer you until you “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

You say, “I don’t get anything out of the sermons! I feel just as lost after I hear a sermon as I did before!” Of course. And you will always feel lost until you “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And you say, “I don’t know how to come to Him! The harder I try the more impossible it seems.” Yes, I know, and you will always feel that way until you “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” You say, “I feel like giving up the whole thing, and leaving the church!” Yes, and you will continue to feel that way unless you “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Listen to what one young person in our church felt before his conversion,

I was troubled heavily that Sunday night after hearing the sermons preached by Dr. Hymers. Much of the sermons preached went through my mind...I was under a terrible turmoil, and the guilt of sin was much greater than all the distractions around me. Nothing could have made me laugh or pull me out of this trouble. It was like it was out of control... under this weight of sin. There were many people who tried to pull me away from my thoughts. All I wanted then was time to be alone. Many fears raised up within me. I said to myself, “What if I die now?” I remember saying to myself, “I’m lost. I’m doomed.”

These are the words of a young person in our church shortly before he was converted. You will never be converted unless you feel some of that from the Holy Spirit.

Please stand and pray for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin to someone tonight. – You may be seated.

Please notice, in Romans chapter 5, three things about the atoning, saving death of Jesus on the Cross.

I. First, Christ died for sinners who are without strength.

Please read Romans 5:6 aloud.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).

Amen.

You are without strength, aren’t you? In fact, you are so weak that you are helpless, aren’t you? You can’t figure this out, can you? You can’t do anything right, can you? You can’t make yourself come to Jesus, can you? So, you are without strength – aren’t you? Ah, but “when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). But what I need, the Bible says, is ever, only Jesus!

I’ve tried in vain a thousand ways
My fears to quell, my hopes to raise;
But what I need, the Bible says,
Is ever, only Jesus.
(“In Jesus” by James Procter, 1913).

Think of His overwhelming love! While you are without strength, Christ died to save you!

II. Second, Christ died for you while you were still a sinner!

You were still a sinner! Read it! It’s Romans 5:8.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Amen!

Matchless love! Who has ever heard of such love? God loves you while you are yet a sinner! God proved His love for you by sending His own dear Son to die in your place, to save you from the penalty of sin, to save you from the fire of Hell!

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

My soul is night, my heart is steel –
I cannot see, I cannot feel;
For light, for life, I must appeal
In simple faith to Jesus!

Stand and sing it – the second stanza!

Please pray for the Holy Spirit to give someone “simple faith in Jesus.” – You may be seated.

III. Third, Christ died for you while you were an enemy.

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10).

Read it, stopping at the word “Son.”

“Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou [oh Christ] should die for me.”
(“And Can It Be?” by Charles Wesley, 1707-1788).

More love to Thee, O Christ, More love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make On bended knee;
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee, More love to Thee!
(More Love to Thee” by Elizabeth P. Prentiss, 1818-1878).

Though some should sneer, and some should blame,
I’ll go with all my guilt and shame,
I’ll go to Him because His name,
Above all names, is Jesus.